The rising unemployment rate caused by the global financial crisis triggered a massive wave of protests in Europe. In this context，the EU reiterated the core concept of the European Social Model and tired to tide over the crisis in the labor market by strengthening the social partnership at the EU level. On the other hand，the EU countries successively tightened their immigration policies. Besides，the EU introduced policies aimed at tightening control over the illegal immigrants and set about coordinating refugee policies. Furthermore，the financial crisis intensified social tension and anxiety. A great many of people blamed the foreign immigrants and ethnic minorities for unemployment and collapsing income，which has deepened the racial discrimination and enhanced the influence of the extreme right parties. During the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009，the EU strove to promote creative and innovative practices in different domains and to arouse the public awareness of the importance of creativity as the crucial factor in individual，social and economic development in the context of globalization.